The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-02
BISGUSTED WITH THE WORLD.
Two Men of Talent Who Are Too Sensitive for
Rough Contact with Everyday Life.

Special to the Indianapolis journal
CINCINNATI. Nov. IA most peculiar case OF
misanthropy and self imposed secluson has just
come to light in this city. in which two men of
undoubted genius. and at one time very promi-
nent in artistic circles, have been hid from the
world. and their most intimate friends for
nearly q generation, though living within gun
shot of them, and living. too, in the most abject
poverty. when they might almost without ef-
fort. live in luxury and have won honors and
for tune For nearly thirty years Edward Cred
land and George Bryce have lived in the same
little dingy. dirty. forlorn back room on an
upper story of the old tenement house at No.
East Third street They held no inter
course with the other tenants, and so
far as their neghbors could see with
no one outside. The other day a gentleman
stumbled upon them who had known one of
them in better days, and proclaimed him to be
once famous painter, who had disappeared from
his friends and the world q generation ago.
Years ago Edward Credland young artist
here who gave unusual promise OF greatness.
He won prizes at exhibitions. and even now his
wo rks in many Cincinnati houses, and are
valued very highly. all the more because the
artist was supposed to have died thirty years
ago. One prize picture was that Of dog. which
some person by carelessness or design, mutila-
ted by punching out eye. The picture, how
soul of the artist wounded irreparably. He
left this city and went to Dayton. but soon dis
appeared from there, and no trace OF him was
ever found He was supposed to be dead. when
in fact all that time he had been living in the
very heart of his native city.
The case of Bryce is very similar. He is
Scotchman, and when young artist OF
more than usual promise and attainments His
history is not well known that of his COM
panion in solitude, but it is known that he became
soured the world many years ago. and
determined to live only for his art. He
wandered awav from his fathers home here and
the two congeniai spirits, sympathizng with
each other in their love for art and their disgust
with the world. have been close companions
ever since. They greatly attached to each
otner aud spend most of their time in friendly
discussion, chiefly theology, art and the IN
charitab abeness of the world they have left
Their room is dirty. almost totally devoid of
furniture, and the rats have free entrance. IN
fact, furnish company for the two old mis-
anthropes. The dingy walls are covered with
paintings any one which would sell for enough
to put the old men beyond the reach OF want.
but which they absolutely refuse to part with
at any price because they have sworn the world
shall never again have an opportunity to sneer
at or contemD their work.
They live on the cheapest food mostly only
bread and coffee. and wear only the poorest and
cheapest clothing. By the making of sketches
for engravers and like work they manage TO sub
sist and to buy paints and canvas for the in
dulgence of their love for art. which has become
parfect mania with them. When their
will no longer hold their paintings they destroy
more or less of them, utterly refusing to give
any away, and then begin again. Now
that their friends have found them out they are
not only willing. but anxious TO help them; but
nothing will these two singular old hermits
cept, preferring their life of poverty with the
rats as their companions and their pictures,
with independence and scorn for the world to
any of the comforts they have so long done with
ont. 1t is a most singular case.